Milk-retarding apparatus.



Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

lib 14112 WIT/VESSEL? i FICE.

FRED ROY MONROE, OF MIDDLE'JJOWN, N EW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF '10JOHN D.

HAGGERTY, OF SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY.-

MILK-RETARDING ABPAIBLATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2,23, ttig..

means of which the How of the liquid t-hrough the retarder is alsoreadily and easily controlled.

It comprises a plurality of tanks throughl which the heated milk isconducted, and in which it remains at the required temperature vfor thenecessary length of time; and each of the tanks contains anvimproveddevice which receives the inl'lowing milk, and divides the same into anumber of streamlets so as to prevent the body of the milk contained ineach tank from being agitated by the quantity of milk supplied to theinside of the tank to an undue extent.

Reference is to be "had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part ofthis specification, in which the' same characters of reference indicatethe same parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the arrangement of tanks for myimproved milk retarding apparatus, one of the tanks being broken away toshow the interior thereof; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing animproved orm of float which is placed in the tanks to divide theiniowing stream, of milk into a number of fine streamlets to prevent thebody oi? milk in each tank from being agitated; and Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the float.

On the drawings the numeral 1 represents the first tank of my apparatus,to which milk is supplied, and thls tank is inclosed in a coverofasbestos or other fireproof and heat-proof material which lines theexterior surface thereof almostV up to the top. The tank is supportedupon standards 3 resting upon a oor 4; and the top of the tank is openand terminates in an outwardextending flange 5. This flange issurrounded by. a number of brackets 6, each of which receives atightening screw 7; and 8 is a cover for the top of the tank which restsupon the flange and is held in place by fthe tightening screws. Thiscover may have recesses in the rim to enable it to pass the screws and.brackets when the same is laid on the top ofthe tank, and in such avcase the cover will be turned to bring the uncovered portion of thecircumference beneath the screws 7 when the screws are to be tightened.The recessed portions and the bracket 6 will be ofI such dimensions thatwhen the cover islaid on the flange 5, the inner ends 0f the recessedportions will not lie within the inner edge of the flange 5, so thatevery opening from the outside to the inside of the tank l will beclosed; and in practice I prefer to arrange a gasket or packing betweenthe liange 5 andthe coversealing 6, for the purpose of hermeticall thejoint between the cover and t e flange and make the tank perfectlyair-tight on the interior.

Through the cover 8 passes the short length of pipe 9, connected with aT-coupling 10. This T-eoupling is joined by means of a section of pipingor tubin to a similar coupling 12, to which also lea s a supply conduit13. This conduit communicates with a` pump which forces the milk afterthe same has been heated, into the tank 1.

Inside of the tankl is a flo-at 14.-, which has the form shown in Figs.2 and 3. This float has a clo'sed convex top 15, which supports acylindrical projection '16 having apertures 17 therethrough in thebottom of the same; and 18 are similar apertures in the sides of theHeat 7, about half way between the top and bottom. The bottom is open asshown, and the edge is turned slightly outward. This tank is arrangedtofloat on the surface of the milk with the top 15in the position shown inFig. 1, and the hollow cylindrical projection 16 coaxial with the inletpipe 9. In consequence, milk owing into the tank 1 will drop down uponthe top 15 inside the projection 16 and How outward through theapertures 17, over the edge of the top and between the sides of thefloat and the inside ofthe tank to the body of the milk which the tankcontains. The apertures 17 will divide the milk thus entering, into anumber of streamlets, each of which will discharge into the body of theliquid in the tank a quantity of'nuilk too small to agitate the same.0rdinarily,

vthe capacity of the apertures 17 will be sufile ficient to carry 0H'the milk which Hows into the projection 16, but should this projectionever fill, the milk will How over the upper edge upon the convex top 15and become diffused over the surface of its top. Vhen this milk reachesthe edge of the top and Hows down along the sides of the Hoat to themain body of the milk in the tank 1, it will enter the main body of theliquid 'at any given point in such a small quantity that no agitation orcurrents will result.

From the bottom of the tank 1 leads an outlet 20, which communicateswith a T- coupling 21. The lower end of this coupling has an outletvalve 22 therein, and this coupling-also unites with a section of piping23, which leads to a four-way coupling 24. From this coupling a pipe 25leads upward to a T-coupling 26, which communicates by means of ascctionvof piping 27 to a T-coupling 28, similar to the T-coupling 10.From this last-named coupling leads a section of piping 29, which formsan inlet for a tank 30, similar inall respects to the tank 1, having anasbestos cover 31 andy supported by standards 32. This tank has a Hange33 at the top and carries brackets 34 supporting binding screws 35,which fasten a cover 36 on the Hange to close the open end of the tank.The bottom of the tank 30 has an outlet 36 communicating with aT-coupling 37.

38 is an outlet or drain cock below the T- coupling 37, and thisT-coupling also communicates by means of a section of tubing 39 with aT-coupling 40.

41 indicates a pipe leading from the coupling 40 to a coupling 42, and43 is an extension of the pipe 41, and contains a controlling valve 44.The upper end of the pipe 43 has a number of apertures 45 formed in itssides, and these apertures are covered by means of a gauze casing 46,the upper end of the pipe 43 being closed, as will be readilyunderstood.

47 represents a pipe leading outward from the T-coupling 42 to aT-coupling 48, and

A49 is a discharge pipe leading from this lastnamed coupling to aT-coupling 50.

51 represents a pipe passing from the pipe 41 to the pipe 49, and inthis pipe is put the controlling valve 52. A discharge conduit 53 leadsfrom the T-coupling 50 to conduct away the milk after the same has beentreated in the tanks 1 and 30 to the required extent. s

The numeral 54 represents a by-pass leadling from the T-coupling 24directly through the side of the tank 30, and this by-pass contains thecontrolling valve, as shown. By means of this by-pass milk can beconducted directly from the Hrst tank into the second without being letup to pass into the top thereof through the inlet,29.

The manner of operation of my improved milk retarding apparatus is asfollows?. rIhe tank 30 contains a Hoat similar in all respects to theHoat 14, and milk passing into the tank 1 is divided by the action ofthe Hoat 14, which prevents agitation of the volume of milk contained inthis tank in the manner above described. From the tank 1 the milk Howsthrough the pipes 23, 25, 27 and 29 into the tank 30, where it isdivided in a similar manner by the Hoat 14 in the tank 30, and it passesout of the tank 30 by way of the pipes 39, 41, 47, 49 and 53. The rateof How through these tanks will be such as to cause the, milk which isheated before being supplied to the tanks to remain therein at a certaintemperature for the required time, and the coverings of asbestos Vorother heat-proof material on the outside of the tanks serve to preventthe milk from too i rapid cooling. The milk can be taken out of the tank1 through the valve 22 if desired, or, instead of being passed from thetank 1 to the tank 30 through the pipe 25 and inlet 29, it can beconducted directly into the tank 30 through the by-pass 54. In such acase the Hoat 14 in the tank 30 will remain idle for the time being.After passing into the tank 30 the milk can be drawn out of the sameeither through the valve 38 or through the pipes 39, 41, 47 and 49, ordirectly through the by-pass 51 from' the pipe 39 to the dischargeconduit 53.

The function of theholes 18 in the Hoat 14 is to permit the escape ofair trapped below the convex top 15, when a volume of air thus trappedexp-ands, owing to the increase in the temperature thereof. lThe airbetween the surface of the milk and the top of the Hoat 14 will thenpass out through the apertures 18, buoying up the Hoat 14 only to thepoint of exposing the apertures 18. These apertures 18 are located asuiiicient distance above the lower edge 19 to prevent the inclosed andheated air from expanding to a sufficient extent to upset or tilt theHoat 14 before the `air escapes, a thing'which often happens in Hoats ofordinary form, in which the apertures 18 are omitted. This tilting ofthe Hoats results in temporary displacement of the hollow cup-shapedprojection 16, so that the incoming milk passing through the inlet 9falls directly upon the convex top 15, with too much splashing andagitation in consequence. By means of my Hoatprovided with the aperturesthis splashing is avoided.

The reason for the practical utility of my improved form of Hoat will,it is thought, become apparent from a little reHection. If the holes 18were omitted the air would be forced to keep on expanding until the Hoatlwas lifted so high with respect to the level of the surface vof themilk in either tank as to be in a condition of stable equilibrium beforeany of the -air could effect its escape.

In suchcondition the float might be made to tilt, with resultantsplashing of the 4incoming stream of milk, by v a number of very slightcauses, such for example, as a jar to Vthe building in which theapparatus isset.

up, or an agitation of the contents, which might provide an outlet atone point below the edge of the iioat to permitsome of the inclosed airto escape. The presence of the holes 18, however, 'prevents theexpansion from proceeding so far as to disturb the equilibrium of theloat-before the holes 18 are uncovered and some of the air allowed topass outside .of the same. It will be noted that these holes are locatedsome distance above the lower edge of the oat, and when these holes aresubmerged a considerable portion of the mass of the float will belocated below the surface of the liquid, and the air'entrapped below thetop will buoy up the oat and prevent the milk from coming in Contactwith the inside of the top at all times. Furthermore, the expansion ofthis air will only lift the float high enough to expose one or more ofthe Iopenings 18 and allow part of it to escape,l after which the floatwill again settle down into the milk which carries it, and thus be keptin a sub,- stantially horizontal position, with the projection 16 inline with the inflowing stream of milk, to prevent splashing, as abovedescribed.

It will be observed that the pipe leading from the bottom of the tank linto the tank 30 and then from the bottom of the tank 30 up to theT-coupling 42, constitutes a siphon; and when all the air has been eX-hausted from the tanks l and 30 and pipes connectingvthe same, the flowof milk from the tank l to the tank 30 and therefrom thi-@ugh the pipes4l, 47 and 49 and out through the conduit 53, will continue, even thoughthe level of the milk in each of the tanks should sink for the timebeing below the level of the T-coupling 42. This permits the tanks 1 and30 to be completely exhausted of their contents by the milk passing outthrough the bottom of the first tank and then up and through the top ofthe second tank and up through the T-coupling 42 and down from the pipe49 in the usual Way. Should,however, it ever become desirable, the valve44 can be turned, admitting air through the apertures 45 to theT-coupling 42, and thus interrupt the Siphoning at that point. In thatcase the first tank can be drained' through the by-pass 54 into` thesecond tank, and the second tank drained through the pipe 39 and theby-pass 51 to the pipe 53. Or, if desired, the contents of either tankcan be drained through the valves shown at 22 and 38.

It will he observed that thetank 1 is supported above the level of thetank 31, and that as long as the level of the milk in the 25 and 27,either by siphoning or by the head of the liquid in the tank 1. When thelevel of the milk in the tank 1 sinks below the top of the tank 30,.thevalve in the b pass 54 .can be opened to enable the milk 1n the tank 1to flow directly into the tank 30; or the milk in the tank 1 can bedrawn out by way of the valve 22, if desired. I

So long as the level of the milk in the tank 30 is above the T-coupling42, there will be a free flow from the tankgl through the pipes 41, 47and 49 in the same way. If the level of the milk sinks below this pointthe milk can still be siphoned off through the pipes 41, 47 and 49, butif it be desired to interrupt the siphoning by opening the valve 44, themilk can be drawn from the tank 31 throughthe by-pass 51 by opening thevalve 52, or be drawn out directly by opening the valve 38.

By means of the above-described construction I have' produced a milkretarding apparatus in which the connections are easily accessible forpurposes of assembling, and washing and cleaning the tanks and thepiping connecting the tanks, at all times. p Furthermore, the action ofthe float is certain, and the liability of any temporary splashing andthe resultant agitation of the milk in either tank, due to the tiltingof the float, to such an extent as to permit the incoming milk passingthrough the top of either tank to fall directly upon the convex top 15,is almost entirely eliminated.

Obviously, while I have shown two tanks, the scope of my invention isnot limited to that number, but I may use a larger numberV if desired.Whatever number may be used, however, the tanks will be connected in thesame manner as the tanks 2 and 31, in descending order, the siphonattachment being applied to the lowest in the series.

I wish to have it understood that the above description and the drawingsillustrating the same present but one embodiment of my invention., andthat I do not wishto be limited to the details thereof but wish toreserve to myself the right to make whatever changes in the shape, sizeand arrangement of the parts ,fairly fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having' thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

l. In an improvement of the kind described, a float comprising acylindrical body having-an open lower end and having a convex topclosing the upper end, said convex top having a hollowcylindricalprojection provided with apertures therethrough around its lower edge,and the sides of said oat--having apertures therethrough below the levelOf the top to permit the escape of air from the interior of the Boatwhen the same is in use.

2. In a device of the kind described,l a oat comprising a hollowcylindrical body having an open lower end, the edge Of which is turnedoutward, and having its upper end closed by a convex top, said tophaving a hollow cylindrical pro3ection provided with aperturestherethrough adjacent said top, the sides of said body also beingprovided with a rtures to permit the escape Of air from t e interior ofsaid float.

3. A oat comprising a hollow body having an' Open bottom and a closedtop, said iloat havin One or more apertures in its side below the evelof the top, tO permit the escape of air from the interior 'of the floatwhen the same is in use.

4. A float comprising a hollow body having an Open bot-tom and a .closedtop, said float having one or more apertures passing through its sidebelow the level of the top, to permit the escape of air from theinterior of the float, andhaving a hollow Open pro-"l` jection extendingupward from the top.

5. A float comprising a hollow body having an Open bottom and a closedtop, and having one or more apertures in its side below the level of thetop, to permit the escape of air from the interior of the tio-at, and ahollow, Open projection carried by said top, said projection having oneor more apertures through its sides.

6. A siphon comprising an extension to permit air to enter the samebetween the arms thereof said extension having apertures through itsupper end and having foraminous material covering said apertures, and acontrolling valve in said extension between the Siphon and saidapertured end.

7. A iioat comprising a cylindrical body having an Open bottom andaconvex top, said float having one or more apertures through its sidesbelow the level of the top, to permit the escape of air from theinterior thereof.

8. A iioat comprising a cylindrical body having an' Open bottom and aconvex top, said float having one Or more apertures through its sidesbelow the level of the top, to permit the escape Of air from theinterior thereof, and having a hollow, cylindrical projection open at1ts upper end extending upward from the top thereof.

9. A float comprising a cylindrical body havin an Open bottom and aconvex top, said Oat having one Or more apertures through its sidesbelow the level of the top, tO permit the esca e of air from theinterior thereof, and havlng a hollow, cylindrical projection Open atits upper end extending upward from the top thereof, said projectionhavin One or more apertures therethrough adJacent the convex top.

i 10. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pluralityof tanks, means for delivering liopllid intothe rst tank centrallythrough t e top thereof, means for delivering the contents of the firsttank to the next tank centrally through thel top Of the next tank, andmeans inclosed by each of said tanks adapted to float upon the liquidcontents thereof, said last-named meanshav ing means forming a cavity Orrecess in its top tO retain part Of the incoming liquid and form a pooltO prevent splashing.

In testimony whereof I have, signed my name to this specification in thepresence Of two subscribing witnesses.

- FRED ROY MONROE.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE E. HARE, A.C. N. THOMPSON.

